In the category of" GIVE ME A FREAKIN' BREAK!!!"...... A self-employed landscaper in Colorado is being threatened with "Workplace harrassment"; the result of the signs which appear in his truck & trailer. He advertises his business with signs that read: "Quality Landscaping By An English-Speaking American"....It would seems that "illegal-alien" landscapers have "gotten their feelings hurt"!!! No matter, that the "Building-trades" and the "Landscaping" and "roofing" businesses are dominated by large groups of "Migrant-guest-workers", who frequently discriminate against any other "Races" in hiring and employment. Many years ago, I worked in the construction-industry in New Mexico. During "slow" periods, My best-friend (who appeared Hispanic, but was not) was offered work while I was not... although we were equally qualified. It seemed that "racism" worked BOTH WAYS!!! No one would deny the rights of another human being to "make a living"; and migrant/ foreign-national workers are usually hard-working, honest people. If this is "workplace-harrassment", then any reference to "Habla Espanol" is an intimidation of "English-speaking" , "German-Speaking", "Viet Namese-speaking" or any other American citizens. I recently visited a local Mexican restaurant, whose employees proudly wear tee-shirts which say: "Help stamp out Gringo food". I am personally "offended" by Hispanics refering to "White-people" as "Gringos"!! It is a derogatory reference, NO different than phrases such as: "Greaser", "Spic", or "Wet-back"!!! I suppose that it is alright to call "white people" things like: "Honkey", "Cracker", Or "Gringo"..... GOD forbid that we "Use the "N" word" or any of the other insulting , derogatory references to "People-of Color"!! ALL PEOPLE "HAVE COLOR"!!! I am not "White", I AM HUMAN!!! I am not a "Caucasian"..... I HAVE NO RELATIVES FROM THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS!! If Hispanics expect to be treated with dignity and respect, they cannot continue to refer to some people as "Gringoes", any more than they would want to be called some of the slang phrases that I have previously mentioned!! "Racism" is JUST ANOTHER NAME FOR STUPIDITY, AND UN-FOUNDED BLAME OF OTHERS!! ...... IN OTHER WORDS: SHUT UP, QUIT WHINING, AND GET A LIFE!!!! Life is not "fair"; GET OVER IT!!! Some people will ALWAYS "judge" you unfairly. Discrimination is ubiquitous, and ever-present. As it has been said: "There's no such thing as a free lunch", and there's always going to be someone who wants yours, and will do anything or say anything to get it!! GET OVER IT!!!!
- posted by Dave @ 9:05 PM